Cluster case density was defined as the number of days from the specimen collection date of the first cluster isolate to the collection date of the third isolate and was categorised into cluster case densities of 1-7, 8-14 and > 14 days coded as density 1, 2 and 3, respectively [ 26].
Susceptibility testing of Mtb complex isolates by phenotypic methods requires a minimum of 14 days from a primary specimen.
Six patients (patients 9, 10, 11, 15, 29, and 32) had isolates that were recovered after >7 days from various clinical specimens.
The following data were obtained for each specimen: days from outpatient visit to receipt at the KP laboratory, week of receipt by the KP laboratory, patient age group in 5-year intervals, patient sex, fecal consistency, and results of any diagnostic tests performed by the KP laboratory.
The 73 isolates from Denmark were isolated from 1995 to 2004: 14 from ill persons, ≥2 of whom reported travel to Thailand in the 30 days before specimen collection; 22 from pigs on farms; 20 from chicken meat; 9 from turkey meat; 4 from pork; and 4 from other food sources.
Turn around time (TAT) was estimated as the time, in days, from the receipt of specimens to the time results were available in the laboratory.
The time elapsed from specimen receipt to reporting (median, 12 days; range, 1 day-27 days) was similar to our previous experience in an international trial of patients with advanced NSCLC (median, 11 days; range, 1 day-47 days).
The time window from specimen collection to Nugent scoring is 4 days, and from Nugent scoring to first dose of treatment is 2 days, for a total of 6 days from sample collection to treatment.
The mean number of days from obtaining a positive nose swab specimen to the second serum sample was 44 days (actual number: 14, 21, 27, 43, 45, 114 days).
Overall, the median turnaround time from specimen collection to receipt of final report was 18 days (interquartile range (IQR) 13 29).
